Stern's Fantasy Comes True

David Stern could not have scripted it any better last night in Los Angeles. While the media focused on the allegations of game fixing by referees and fans questioned the product on the court, the NBA Finals reached historic levels last night as the Boston Celtics came back from a 24-point deficit to beat the Lakers 97-91.

 

From the opening tip the Lakers, looking to even the series 2-2, seemed to have complete control over the Celtics. Lamar Odom, who slept through the first three games, started the game 7-7 from the field. League MVP Kobe Bryant did not even take a shot through the entire first half.

 

With the first half winding down, the Celtics seemed to have life before a Jordan Farmar three pointed that banked off the glass. At that moment it seemed like the Lakers were destined to even the series.

 

But Boston came out of the halftime break with high energy. Pierce moved to Bryant and shut him down as Bryant finished with 17 points. It got to the point where Bryant seemed to believe that he couldn’t change the direction of the game. Instead of attempting to take over the game, the MVP continued to pass the ball early in the shot clock and allow his teammates to decide the game.

 

Although many have been critical towards Bryant over his relationship with his teammates, this was not the game to allow his teammates to run the show. Kobe needed to step up and demand for the ball. Every play down court should have gone through him either in a post up situation or a play that allowed Kobe to take Pierce off the defender.

 

Instead the Celtics suffocated the Lakers and now lead the series 3-1. No team in NBA finals history has ever overcome such a disadvantage and the way the Lakers are playing they do not appear to be the first.

 

Odom played great in the first half but faded as the game went along. Gasol continued to struggle to do anything but dunk the basketball as even his lay-up is not always a guarantee. Kobe, the one sure thing for the Lakers in the first three games, played like he was afraid of the spotlight yesterday. Sunday night he must be better, he has to be better, and more importantly, he needs to be better. Otherwise all of Kobe’s demands to want to carry a team to a championship last summer will seem fickle.

 

Quick thoughts…

 

How long does it take a Vick to get into trouble? Well now Marcus Vick is back in the news for being arrested on DUI charges and eluding police. It is sad to me that such great athletes never found the right people to guide them.

 

Joba Chamberlain starts his third game for the Yankees tonight and is allowed to throw up to 95 pitches. The Yankees desperately need to string together a couple of wins and it can start tonight with Joba. If the Yankees can get more than five games above .500 heading into the All-Star break, and if Ian Kennedy can regain his form from last September, the Yankees will be fine.

 

Tiger may be able to compete with his injured knee, but he will not be able to win with it. Finishing second at the Masters with this knee problem is impressive as well as returning so soon, but even Tiger can’t beat professionals on one leg… I think.